Hannah’s Booker’s 2021-03 Bardstown Batch Review
Original review written November 3, 2021
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
Bardstown Batch ticks all the boxes for me, and I am quite happy to have it in the bunker. Rich, deep, oily, fruity – yes, please and thank you! 94/100
VITALS:
– Made In: Clermont, Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Jim Beam Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Small Batch
– Age: 6 yrs., 5 months, and 0 days
– Mash Bill: Corn=77%; Rye=13%; Malted Barley=10%
– Casks: Char #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 62.75% (125.5 proof)
– Price: $89.95 USD in Idaho
– From Master Distiller’s Notes: Bardstown Batch is made up of barrels that were aged in 5 different locations/warehouses (WH)… Breakdown is as follows:
27%: 5th floor of 9-story WH H
24%: 6th floor of 9-story WH D
19%: 5th floor of 7-story WH I
11%: 8th floor of 9-story WH J
11%: 5th floor of 7-story WH Z
8%: 2nd floor of 9-story WH H
Find more information at bookersbourbon.com
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
I enjoyed this spirit neat from a Glencairn glass with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.
Check out his review for this bourbon here!
SETTING:
This bourbon begs to be enjoyed with some Italian, French, or even just garlic bread. Pour out some olive oil, sprinkle in some ground pepper and peppercorns and enjoy. I can imagine everything would complement and only make the other better. (Trust me, I’ll be creating an opportunity to try this.)
Photo by Frédéric Paulussen on Unsplash
NOSE:
This is very caramelly and vanilla-y on the first inhale, with plenty of depth and richness to immediately take note of. I catch some acidic plums, currants, and cinnamon. There is also a nutty earthiness, but I don’t think I could properly pin down the exact nut. For wood, I think barrel char is the most powerful, but gentler oaky notes can be found in this glass too. I can get corn as well, but I would say it works more as a base for the other, more pronounced flavors, rather than being a main contributor. The alcohol isn’t as offensively strong as I was anticipating – in fact, it’s relatively gentle and just gives a tickle more than anything else.
PALATE:
– Mouth Feel: First and lasting impression: Oily, oily, oily, and oily. Absolutely love it for this bourbon.
– Balance: The flavors all stick out independent of one another, but together, they make for a quite solid blend.
– Visual: Terracotta in color, I don’t find too many legs, but there is a defined ring that clings to the glass for some time.
– Taste: I can hold it at the front of my palate for a good long while before I feel any kind of alcohol burn. However, the spice is certainly quite forward and noticeable. I find black pepper, rye, and cinnamon, but there is some fruity sweetness present as well. Especially after holding it on the palate, I can taste cherry juice, plums, and baked apples. It’s a wonderful medley that works well with all of the spice. Dark vanilla custard and some barrel char finish off the pronounced flavors, and it truly does taste just sinful.
The alcohol, as stated, isn’t unbearable, but it’s a burn I already know has the potential to hug if you’re not careful. When I do a Kentucky chew, the alcohol isn’t as intense as I was expecting, but there are definite needles-in-tongue sensations. But they are tiny, and they wake up some oak and more cherry juice, which is just delectable.
FINISH:
– Lasting Power: Medium-long. The warmth certainly lingers, and I even get a bit of aftertaste, but neither are intense as I would have imagined them to be.
– Between Sips: Cherries, and apples can be found here between sips. They lift up the end of each sip, and prime the palate for the next.
– No More: The sweetness continues to grow the further into the glass I get. There is also a growing grassy element as well. It provides a pleasant extra tickle of texture and brightens up the darkness of the glass quite well.
The empty Glencairn is sweet and oaky, and even contains a bit of honey. I really love this.
THE ADDITION OF WATER
– This section written on November 6, 2021 –
Booker’s 2021-03 Bardstown Batch Review: Water can often tame bold whiskeys and the addition of 2-4 drops will not radically change the proof of the pour. Rather water may help open the spirit allowing the aromas and flavors to bloom. As such, 2 and 4 drops of distilled water were added to their own respective 1.5 oz. pours of Booker’s Bardstown Batch to detect any potential differences:
Two drops of water knock back a lot of the heat, and by doing so, it actually makes the pour smoother overall while not compromising the oily mouth feel too much. I find more cherries and caramel. There is also a greater sense of oak with the water drops, and it contributes greatly to the overall balance of this pour. It’s become a richer foundation in this bourbon and makes this overall, an even deeper whiskey. I’m enjoying this quite a lot, and I see myself being tempted again to add water to Bardstown Batch at times. The finish remains warm and rich. (RATING: 94/100)
Cherries are still prominent with four drops, and now I also find brown sugar. The wood has weakened, and the alcohol has mellowed out even more. It’s still smooth, and it has surprisingly retained some significant texture. I think this is still quite good, and if I hadn’t known this had water in it, I’d think this was a very decent bourbon neat. Do I think it’s worth adding four drops of water to, for extra oakiness, a loss of some of the complexity, and the weakened alcohol? No. But I’m not disappointed in having to finish this pour. (RATING: 90/100)
WORTH THE PRICE?
$90 is a big ask, but likely, if you’re already into Booker’s products, you’re wanting to give it a try. Out of the three released in the year 2021, this one sits right with Tagalong Batch, so if you enjoyed that one, and can find this one on the shelves, give it a try! And if you are looking to get into Booker’s, I do think this is a great one to whet your palate on, without feeling like you’re gambling too hard with a near $100 purchase.
BOOKER’S 2021-03 BARDSTOWN BATCH REVIEW RATING: 94/100
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